The ancient name of Amravati is “Udumbravati”, in prakrut, “Umbravati”. The variant ‘Amravati’ is the presently accepted name. It is said that Amravati is named for its ancient Ambadevi temple. A mention of Amravati can be found on a stone inscription on the base of the marble statue of God Adinath (Jain God) Rhishabhnath. The statues date back to the year 1097. Govind Maha Prabhu visited Amravati in the 13th century, when Wardha was under the rule of Deogiri’s Hindu King (Yadava dynasty). In 14th century, there was drought and famine in Amravati, so people abandoned Amravati and left for Gujrat and Malwa. Though some locals returned after several years, this resulted in a scanty population. In 16th century, Magar Aurangpura (today, ‘Sabanpura’) was alloted for a Jama Masjid by Mughal Aurangzeb. This indicates the existence of a Muslim population. In 1722, Chhattrapati Shahu presented Amravati and Badnera to Shri Ranoji Bhosle; eventually Amravati was known as Bhosle ki Amravati. The city was reconstructed and developed by Ranoji Bhosle after the treaty of Devgaon and Anjangaon Surji and victory over Gavilgad (Fort of Chikhaldara). The British general and author Wellesly camped in Amravati, the place is still known as the ‘camp’, by Amravati people. Amravati city was founded towards the end of the 18th century. The Union state of Nijam and Bosale ruled Amravati. They appointed a revenue officer but neglected defence. The Gavilgad fort was conquered by the British on 15 December 1803. Under to the Deogaon treaty, Warhad was presented as a token of the friendship to the Nijam.
Amravati was once surrounded by four gates: Jawahar Gate, Kholapuri Gate, Nagpuri Gate and Amba Gate. The jewellery market (also known as Sarafa Bazaar) is located inside Jawahar Gate with renowned shops like Mangalam, Gogate Saraf, Soni jewellers, etc. There are two main parts inside the Fort wall, Bhaji Bazar and Budhwara, famous for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations ( The festival of Lord Ganesha ). The two well known ganesh mandals of Bhaji Bazar are Chhatrapati Shivaji Mandal and Sarvajanik Mandal. In Budhwara, the oldest Famous ganesh mandal of Vidarbh Shri Laxmikant Ganeshotsav Mandal(1916) and other mandals are Azad Hind Mandal,Nilkanth Mandal & Anant Mandal. Mandals are committees which organise various programs during the ten days Ganesh Chaturthi. There are well known temples located in old Amravati, examples include the Balkrishna temple, Someshwar Temple, Murlidhar and Bhrahmachari Maharaj Temple (Renovated by the Deodia family in 1938). The Laxmi Narayan Temple, Jain Shwetamber Temple, Kala Maroti Temple are all in Bhaji bazar. The Nilkanth Temple, Shri Krishna temple, Ekvira Devi temple, are in Budhwara. The Amba Devi and Ekvira Devi temple are at the Amba Gate.
The Sahukars (bankers and merchants) of Amravati saved Amravati by presenting seven lakh rupees to Chittu Pendhari. The Nijam ruled for a more than half century. From 1859 to 1871, many government buildings were constructed by the British. The Railway Station was constructed in 1859; the Commissioner Bungalow in 1860, the Small Causes Court in 1886, (today, the S.D.O. OFFICE), the Tahsil Office & the Main Post Office were built in 1871. The Central Jail, Collector’s Office, the Rest House and Cotton Market were also built. During 1896, Shri Dadasaheb Khaparde, Shri Raghunath Narasinha Mudholkar, Sir Moropant Joshi, Shri Pralhad Pant Jog were prominent men in Amravati. The 13th Congress Conference was held at Amravati on 27–29 Dec’ 1897 due to their efforts. The Municipal A.V. High School was inaugurated at the hands of Shri Subhas Chandra Bose. Amravati housed the head office of ‘Savinay Awagya Andolan ‘(The Civil Disobedience Movement). On 26 April 1930, water was taken from ‘Dahihanda’ for the famous ‘Namak Satyagrah’, Dr. Soman brought sea water from Mumbai for the occasion. About ten thousand people prepared salt under the leadership of Shri Vir Vamanrao Joshi.
The Purna, rises near Bhainsdehi in Betul district of Madhya Pradesh in the Satpudas. After flowing for about 50 km in a general southerly and south-easterly direction enters the district. It travels across the district in a south-westerly direction dividing it into two halves, first through the Achalpur taluka and then along the boundary between the Amravati and Daryapur talukas. Finally, it turns due westwards forming the boundary of the district and continues further to join the Tapti near Muktainagar in Jalgaon district. The only significant left bank tributary of the Purna is the Pedhi. The first of the principal right bank tributaries is the Arna. The next is a small river known as the Bodi. The next tributary, the Chandrabhaga is a very important one, flowing in a general south-westerly direction to join the Purna. The principal right bank affluent of the Chandrabhaga is the Bhuleshwari. The westernmost tributary of the Purna of some significance within the district is the Shahanur, with its tributary, the Bordi.
The Amravati Municipal Corporation is headed by a Mayor who is assisted by the Deputy Mayor. Before March 1999 they had an office term of only one year, which has now been raised to 3 years. They carry out the work through various committees such as Standing Committee, Law Committee, Education Committee, Women and Child Welfare Committee, City Development Committee and Four Zonal Committees for the four zones. Amravati Municipal Corporation was established on 15 August 1983. In August 1983 the area occupied by the Municipal Corporation was 121.65 km2. The AMC comprises area of erstwhile Municipal Council, Amravati, and area of erstwhile Municipal Council, Badnera along with eighteen revenue villages namely Navsari, Tarkheda, Shegaon, Rahatgaon, Mhasala, Wadali, Benoda, Jewad, Vadad, Nimbhora (K), Saturna, Akoli, Waruda, Kasbe, Badnera Mahajanpura, Gambhirpura and Amravati Peth. Now the total area of the city is 270 km2 of which 181 km2 falls under municipal limits and about 89 km2 falls out of the municipal limits.
In 1853, the present-day territory of Amravati district as a part of Berar Province was assigned to the British East India Company, following a treaty with the Nizam of Hyderabad. After the Company took over the administration of the province, it was divided into two districts. The present-day territory of the district became part of North Berar district, with headquarters at Buldhana. Later, the province was reconstituted and the territory of the present district became part of East Berar district, with headquarters at Amravati. In 1864, Yavatmal District (initially known as Southeast Berar district and later Wun district) was separated. In 1867, Ellichpur District was separated but in August, 1905, when the whole province was reorganized into six districts, it was again merged into the district. In 1903, it became part of the newly constituted province of Central Provinces and Berar. In 1956, Amravati district became part of Bombay State and after its bifurcation in 1960, it became part of Maharashtra state.
In 1853, the present day territory of Amravati district, as a part of the Berar Province was assigned to the British East India Company, following a treaty with the Nizam of Hyderabad. After the Company took over the administration of the province, it was divided into two districts. The present day territory of the district became part of North Berar district, with headquarters at Buldana. Later, the province was reconstituted and the territory of the present district became part of East Berar district, with headquarters at Amraoti. In 1864, Yavatmal District (initially known as Southeast Berar district and later Wun district) was separated. In 1867, Ellichpur District was separated but in August 1905, when the whole province was reorganised into six districts, it was again merged into the district. In 1903, it became part of the newly constituted province of Central Provinces and Berar. In 1956, Amravati district became part of Bombay State and after its bifurcation in 1960, it became part of Maharashtra state.
President Pratibha Patil laid the foundation stone for the New Amravati Model Railway Station building on 7 September 2008. It was inaugurated on 10 December 2011. The new train Amravati-Tirupati Express was flagged off on the same date. Former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav announced the decision to set up a new divisional railway office in Amravati which will be housed in the model railway station building. This will be the sixth divisional railway office of Central Railways, the other five divisions being in Mumbai, Nagpur, Solapur, Bhusawal and Pune. Now Amravati is connected by three Railway stations (Amravati Railway Station, Badnera Railway Station, New Amravati Railway Station on Narkhed route) Amravati railway station provides multiple shuttle services to Badnera throughout the day. Along with this, following trains originate from here.
Warehousing / Godown facility Amravati is main city in vidarbha region and division in maharashtra. Warehousing facility is available provided by Central Warehousing Corporation and for agricultural produce APMC godowns are available which is not sufficient for this huge city. Maharashtra state warehousing Corporation does’t have any office and any branch in city. Regional office of maharashtra state warehousing corporation is expected in future. TWO more TEXTILE units are coming to amravati sez with a investment of about 200–300 crore.Regular/Daily passenger train is announced in the budget from NEW AMRAVATI station to NARKHED station. BHUSAVAL AMRAVATI passenger train has been extended to narkhed station.
The district consists of six sub-divisions, which are further divided into 14 talukas. Amravati sub-division is divided into three talukas: Amravati, Bhatukali and Nandgaon Khandeshwar. Daryapur sub-division is further divided into two talukas: Anjangaon and Daryapur. Achalpur sub-division also consists of two talukas: Achalpur and Chandur Bazar. Morshi sub-division has also two talukas: Morshi and Warud. Dharni sub-division is also divided into two talukas: Dharni and Chikhaldara. Finally, Chandur (Railway) sub-division is divided into three taulkas: Chandur (Railway), Tiosa and Dhamangaon.
20.93°N 77.75°E. It has an average elevation of 343 metres (1125 feet). It lies 156 km (97 mi) west of Nagpur, and serves as the administrative center of Amravati District and of Amravati Division. The town is located near the passes through the hills that separate the cotton-growing regions of the Purna basin to the West and the Wardha basin to the East. There are two lakes in the eastern part of the city, Chhatri Talao & Wadali Talao. Pohara & Chirodi hills are to the east of the city. The Maltekdi hill is inside the city, it is 60 meters high.
Two wheelers and city buses run by the Amravati Municipal Corporation are the major forms of transport within the city. Auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws are also popular. The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) provides transport services for intercity and interstate travel. Many private operators also ply on the highly travelled Amravati – Pune and Amravati – Indore route. Bus services to cities like Nagpur, Bhopal, Indore, Raipur, Jabalpur, Mumbai, Pune, Akola, Nanded, Aurangabad, Parbhani are also available.
Amravati, in Sanskrit, literally means ‘abode of immortals’. Amravati was the capital of Berar, which was part of present-day Vidharbha. Berar was part of the Mauryan emperor Ashoka’s empire. In 1833, Berar was handed over to the British East India Company. It was divided into two districts, South Berar or Balaghat and North Berar. In 1956, due to the reorganisation of the states, Amravati was transferred from Madhya Pradesh to Bombay state. Later in 1960, with the creation of Maharashtra, Amravati became one of its districts.
Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) plans to make air defence missiles at a proposed site at Nandgaon Peth/Sawardi MIDC. Amravati Narkhed railway line is inaugurated and the trains like Indore – Yesvantpur(Bangalore) is running on this railway line and other goods trains are diverted through this line and the Jaipur – Secunderbad train is also started in this month.New Amravati Station is Constructed/Developed on this line. Two new trains via AMRAVATI NARKHED are going to be announced in the Railway Budget.
According to the 2011 census Amravati district has a population of 2,887,826, roughly equal to the nation of Jamaica or the US state of Arkansas. This gives it a ranking of 131st in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 237 inhabitants per square kilometre (610 /sq mi) . Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 10.77%. Amravati has a sex ratio of 947 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 88.23%.
Amravati Airport, located at Belora, 15 kilometres off NH-6 towards Akola, is operated by the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC). Presently it has no commercial scheduled flights. The Nagpur Flying Club has applied to DGCA for permission to shift its flying operations to Amravati airport. It also has a helipad facility. MADC is acquiring about 400 Hectares of land for developing the airport and related facilities at an estimated cost of Rs. 225 Crores.
At the heart of the city is the well known government institute: The Govt. Vidarbha Institute Of Science And Humanities, formerly Vidarbha Mahavidyalaya. It started out as King Edward College. It is the only college serving Amravati with maximum branches for humanities at the undergraduate and post-graduate level. The college has several renowned alumni. The institute has over 500 teaching and non-teaching staff, the maximum in any college under Amravati University.
During the festival of Navratri (literally: nine nights), a Mela lasting nine days is organised, people from nearby towns and villages participate and dance Garba/Dandiya until late in the evening. The city is also known for the Sai Temple and Bhaktidham situated in Sai Nagar. The Shree Swami Samarth temple is situated in Rahatgaon. Other major Indian festivals like Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Azha, Dipawali, Holi and Makarsankranti are also celebrated with lots of enthusiasm.
The Temple of Goddess Amba is an example of religious architecture in the Vidharbha Region. There’s a legend that when Lord Krishna ran away with Goddess Rukhamini from her wedding ceremony, he used a tunnel laying from Ambadevi temple to Koundinyapur (another spiritual place near Amravati). This tunnel is still in existence but is now closed. Many research teams over the years have tried to estimate the length of the tunnel but their efforts have been in vain.
Important railway stations are Badnera and Amravati under Bhusawal-Badnera Section of Bhusawal Division of Central Railway. The other stations under meter gauge are Wan Road Dhulghat and Dabka. These are under Purna – Khandwa Section of South Central Railway. The stations under narrow gauge are Achalpur, Anjangaon Surji and Daryapur under Narrow Gauge Branch lines viz Murtajapur-Achalpur of Bhusawal Division of Central Railway.